UNDERGRADUATE admissions for the 2025/26 academic year move into full gear tomorrow, with the Tanzania Commission for Universities (TCU) targeting over 150,000 students.

Prof Charles Kihampa, the TCU executive secretary, said at a press conference in Dar es Salaam yesterday that the application window will run from July 17 to August 10, with a nationwide digital drive.

Qualified applicants need to submit their applications electronically through the TCU-connected online admission applications of the respective universities, he said, noting that eligible applicants include students who have completed form six, holders of ordinary diplomas or equivalent qualifications, along with holders of the foundation certificate from the Open University of Tanzania (OUT).

“Our website provides access to the bachelor’s degree admission guidebook for the 2025/2026 academic year, which outlines the specific requirements for each applicant group,” he said.

He stressed the importance of submitting applications on time, with the candidates needing to carefully review TCU guidelines and individual university instructions before proceeding.

There will be additional application windows for those who may miss the first round or are unsuccessful in securing admission, he said, urging applicants to regularly visit university websites for accurate application procedures and detailed programme information.

Applicants with foreign academic qualifications must seek equivalency certification before applying, while secondary education certificates are submitted to the National Examinations Council of Tanzania (NECTA) and diploma certificates are verified by the National Council for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (NACTVET), he stated.

He strongly cautioned applicants against using unauthorized brokers or agents for admission services, affirming that experience has shown that during this period, fraudulent individuals often emerge, pretending to assist applicants.

“Be cautious—submit your applications directly through official university platforms,” he stressed, reinforcing ministerial affirmations that 88,320 beneficiaries for higher learning loans will be first-year students enrolling in diploma, undergraduate, postgraduate diploma in legal practice, or degree programmes including recipients of the Samia Scholarship.

A total of 164,453 continuing students will also receive loans, with loans and grants application guidelines available on the websites of the ministry as well as the Higher Education Students’ Loans Board (HESLB).

Prof. Carolyne Nombo, the Education, Science and Technology permanent secretary urged prospective students, parents and guardians to carefully read the relevant instructions in the first 10 days after applications are opened.

Hard copy submissions are no longer accepted as all applications must be completed online, she added.